The Dangote Group has appointed industry veteran David Bird as Chief Executive Officer of its fuels and petrochemicals division, a move aimed at accelerating the company’s expansion across Africa.
Bird, formerly the head of Oman’s Duqm refinery, brings strategic trading expertise, feedstock diversification knowledge, and refinery efficiency emphasis to the role.
With the Dangote refinery complex in Lagos, the world’s largest single-train refinery, ramping up production since its commissioning in January 2024, Bird’s appointment comes at a critical moment. The refinery has faced design flaws and unit upsets, slowing its ramp-up phase.
Despite these challenges, Dangote remains committed to its ambitious growth agenda, including expanding the refinery’s capacity and establishing a fuel distribution network.
Bird’s focus will be on maximizing refinery output and operational efficiency while advancing the group’s footprint continent-wide.
His experience at Oman’s Duqm refinery is seen as strong preparation for the challenges ahead at Dangote.
The appointment is expected to be instrumental in stabilizing the refinery’s performance and positioning it as a continental leader.
